Not everyone has the ability or desire to purchase brand new motorcycles. Luckily there’s a healthy used market. But you have to literally consider the phrase “your mileage may vary” Take Dual Sports for instance, they put in harder mileage than a highway cruiser because they’re used off road a percentage of the time, so how do you know what to look for?
Generally speaking a Dual Sport Motorcycle with more than 20,000 miles on it is considered to have high mileage. Factors that affect this number are type of miles ridden, maintenance history, age, and overall condition of the motorcycle.
Of course, anyone that has shopped for any used vehicle knows it’s not really that simple. There are a number of things to consider in conjunction with the mileage to get a better idea of the condition of a dual sport.
Dual Sport Miles – On Road vs. Off Road
Anyone that has bought a used car has probably heard someone say “ya but they’re highway miles” in reference to an insanely high amount of miles. The idea is that cruising along at 65 mph is easier on a vehicle than stop and go traffic is.
This idea has its merits and we can apply something similar to dual sports. In fact, the difference here is probably more extreme.
Why Off Road Miles are Harder on a Bike
At the very basic level of comparing on and off road mileage you have to consider that when riding off road, you are traveling slower. Therefore the bike is running longer for each mile traveled.
But it doesn’t end there because as anyone who’s done off road riding knows, it’s not a Sunday drive. The terrain is rough and bumpy working the suspension harder and there’s copious amounts of dust, dirt, and mud.
Some types of off road riding require a lot of clutch control, such as navigating tight trails which means more wear and tear on the clutch plates.
How to Tell How a Dual Sport was Used
Dual sports are, by their very nature, designed for both on and off road use. So you should be in no way turned off by the idea the bike left the pavement. But that being said, pavement miles are gentler than dirt miles therefore higher mileage is less of a concern.
Determining how a bike was used doesn’t require a crystal ball. Instead you can use some simple observation and deduction (just like Sherlock Holmes). But before you even do that, simply ask the seller and see what you get for a response.
Here’s a list of things that could indicate more than casual off road use
- Aggressive Knobby tires
- Caked on dirt or mud stains on plastic
- Handguards or “bark busters”
- Non Factory skid plates
- OHRV Stickers
Any one of these alone might not mean much, but use your judgment and keep your eyes peeled for clues that indicate a propensity for the bike to have been used in the dirt often.
Dirt use isn’t a death sentence for a bike by any stretch of the imagination. You just need to know what you’re working with. Expect things to need replacement or repair at a lower mileage.
Dual Sport Condition and Maintenance History
We’ve already determined that an important factor in considering what is high mileage for a dual sport is how HARD those miles were on the bike.
Riding conditions are one thing, but perhaps even more important is the condition and maintenance history of the motorcycle. I’d rather have a well maintained bike with 30,000 miles than a poorly maintained one with 10,000 miles.
Overall Condition
What you’re looking for here isn’t to see if the bike is still in showroom quality, as it should be expected it will show it’s age and normal wear and tear. There might even be some broken plastic or scuffs from dropping it off road. These are not of much concern.
However, be on the lookout for obvious signs of neglect such as weather cracked tires or poorly executed repairs. This is just about observation and getting a feel for if this bike was neglected or not. High miles and signs of neglect are an indicator the bike might be nearing the end of its life.
Determining Maintenance History
This one can be tough. You’d like to think the seller will be forthcoming and honest but even the most honest people may have a tendency to exaggerate and some people are downright deceptive.
If you feel you can trust the seller’s word, that’s great. Maintenance records are even better but so many people work on their own bikes this is a long shot. So you’ll have to use some investigative skills here.
Check the Oil
Oil changes are one of the most basic maintenance items for any vehicle. You can’t know for sure if the oil was changed regularly but you can get an idea.
Pull the dipstick and/or check the sight glass on the engine. You’re not looking to see if the oil is brand new, but the opposite might be a red flag. If the color of the oil is blacker than night there’s a good chance the bike hasn’t seen regular oil changes.
While you’re there check for signs of water or coolant (if the bike is liquid cooled) in the oil. Give it a smell too. If the oil smells burnt, that’s a bad sign too. You might even taste it, I’m kidding……DO NOT taste the oil.
Check the Chain and Sprockets
This is another spot on the bike that gives good clues about how well it was maintained. A high mileage bike will most likely have needed some chain and sprocket maintenance and if that was neglected it’s again, a red flag.
Look over the chain, you don’t need to inspect it with a magnifying glass but look to see if it’s oiled and reasonably clean. If the chain is obviously rusty, that’s No Bueno and means it hasn’t been kept up.
Next look at the front and rear sprockets for wear. Some wear is normal and totally expected but if the teeth are worn way down then they are overdue for replacement.
Final Thoughts on High Mileage Dual Sport Motorcycles
There are many variables that can affect the condition of a used motorcycle, especially a dual sport. The given answer above, that 20,000 miles is considered high mileage for a dual sport is simply a guideline based on averages.
You should use your own judgment if you’re in the market for a used dual sport. Ask questions and use your observational skills. Touch the bike, check the throttle, make sure it feels like the bike was maintained to a reasonable degree.
The better it was maintained, the less concerned I would be with higher mileage.
Recent Posts
Depending on where you live, outdoor activities in the winter could simply mean throwing on a flannel shirt or hoodie. But if you live somewhere like I do, where the snow piles up and it gets cold...
There are a ton of great reasons to commute on a motorcycle, not the least of which is the price of gasoline (or petrol depending where you live). One GREAT reason to commute on a motorcycle is...